DRL Programs, Including Human Rights Democracy Fund (HRDF)

The Human Rights Democracy Fund (HRDF) is the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor’s flagship program, used to fulfill the bureau’s mandate of monitoring and promoting human rights and democracy worldwide. HRDF programs are designed to promote democracy and human rights and acts as the Department’s venture capital for democracy. Since Congress established it in FY 1998, the Human Rights and Democracy Fund has allowed the U.S. to respond rapidly and decisively to democratization and human rights crises and deficits.

HRDF programs are often politically sensitive programs that have a dramatic effect on democracy promotion and personal liberties. The programs enable the U.S. to minimize human rights abuses, support democracy activists worldwide, open political space in struggling or nascent democracies and authoritarian regimes, and allow the U.S. government to bring positive transnational change. Sometimes DRL’s HRDF programming is the only US assistance available to citizens fighting to change their societies. DRL works closely with other agencies and bureaus to ensure that HRDF programs do not duplicate other assistance efforts. The HRDF programs strive for self-sustainability, though a number of programs have received further funding after the end of DRL funds by other resources. DRL’s groundbreaking, cutting-edge programs face high risk, but pay great dividends.

These important efforts have brought success and, with success, DRL funding has grown from $7.82 million in FY 1998 to over $317 million in FY 2007 (DRL administered estimate). The vast majority of DRL programs are awarded through an open, merit-based competition. DRL finds such open competitions yield innovative ideas from a variety of partners who bring, among other things, invaluable country- and region-specific experience.

On occasion, DRL will receive additional funds to implement from Congress, Department of State Bureaus and other U.S. agencies. These have included Congressional Supplemental appropriation, Congressional earmarks, Economic Support Funds (ESF), Partnership to Eliminate Sweatshop Production (PESP) and Support for Eastern Europe Democracy funds (SEED).

To find out more about the DRL grants process, current requests for proposals, or other programmatic information, please use the resources on the left-hand side.